‘Portrait de l’artiste avec son modèle’ is from a series of works by Matisse in the late 1930s of women within the interior. Usually depicted reclining in chairs or with their head in their hand, as seen here, these poses are amongst Matisse’s most favoured, and one the artist returned to agaon and again throughout his oeuvre.

In the present drawing, the artist seemingly breaks the fourth wall of art, depicting himself depicting the model Lydia Delectorskaya. The artist placing themselves within their work is a trope littered across the centuries, most famously seen in the 17th century painting ‘Las Meninas’ by Diego Velazquez. Delectorskaya was not just one of Matisse’s models but an incredibly important figure within his life, becoming both an artistic collaborator and studio manager. From 1935 she was his muse, generating an artistic Renaissance for the artist in the last twenty years of his life.

‘Portrait de l’artiste avec son modèle’ is typical of Matisse’s elegant line work. Using largely curved lines the artist has built the scene with pared back forms. The figures are simplified while simultaneously injected with energy through the multiple stokes of pencil that make up their body, creating a sense of movement and dynamism.

Matisse’s drawings are a highly prized part of his oeuvre. They give a window into the artist’s practice and fruition of ideas. His drawings from this period are in the most important international museums including Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Centre Pompidou, Paris and MoMA, New York.